We elucidated the interaction of small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (SK(Ca)) channels and L-type Ca(2+) channels in muscarinic receptor-mediated control of catecholamine secretion in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. The muscarinic agonist methacholine (10-300 microM) produced concentration-dependent increases in adrenal output of epinephrine and norepinephrine. The SK(Ca) channel b...

Catecholamines such as norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine are closely related to the autonomic nervous system, suggesting that panic disorder may involve elevated catecholamine levels. This study investigated basal and posttreatment catecholamine levels in patients with panic disorder. A total of 29 patients with panic disorder and 23 healthy controls participated in the study. Panic dis...

A small subset of neurons in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans utilizes the catecholamine dopamine (DA) as a neurotransmitter to control or modulate movement and egg-laying. Disruption of DA-mediated behaviors represents a potentially powerful strategy to identify genes that are likely to participate in dopaminergic systems in man. In vertebrates, extracellular DA is inactivated by presynapti...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Mice with targeted deletions of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit genes are valuable models to study nAChR function such as catecholamine outflow by presynaptic receptor activation. Contrary to the rat, our present knowledge on presynaptic nAChRs in mice primarily relies on observations made with synaptosomes. We have now used brain slices to inves...

The mechanisms underlying the onset of obesity are complex and not completely understood. An imbalance of autonomic nervous system has been proposed to be a major cause of great fat deposits accumulation in hypothalamic obesity models. In this work we therefore investigated the adrenal chromaffin cells in monosodium glutamate (MSG)-treated obese female mice. Newborn mice were injected daily wit...

Both lateral hypothalamic orexinergic neurons and hindbrain catecholaminergic neurons contribute to control of feeding behavior. Orexin fibers and terminals are present in close proximity to hindbrain catecholaminergic neurons, and fourth ventricular (4V) orexin injections that increase food intake also increase c-Fos expression in hindbrain catecholamine neurons, suggesting that orexin neurons...

AZUMA, TAKEHIKO, ALBERTO BINIA, AND MAURICE B. VISSCHER. Adrenergic mechanisms in the bullfrog and turtle. Am. J. Physiol. 2og(6): 1287-1294. rg65.-Epinephrine and norepinephrine contents of tissues and perfusates have been measured by fluorimetric methods to ascertain which catecholamine is the sympathetic transmitter in bullfrogs and turtles. Except for adrenal and sympathetic chain, the pred...

It has been suggested that the increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmias recognized below 30 degrees C might be catecholamine mediated. Elevate catecholamine concentrations have been reported in experimentally induced hypothermia in animals. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured during profound hypothermia and total circulatory arrest in infants under one ye...

Flavonoids are biologically active polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in plants. Recent research has focused on high dietary intake of flavonoids because of their potential to reduce the risks of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers. We report here the effects of plant flavonoids on catecholamine signaling in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells used as a mo...

Chromogranin B (CHGB) is the major matrix protein in human catecholamine storage vesicles. CHGB genetic variation alters catecholamine secretion and blood pressure. Here, effective Chgb protein under-expression was achieved by siRNA in PC12 cells, resulting in ~ 48% fewer secretory granules on electron microscopy, diminished capacity for catecholamine uptake (by ~ 79%), and a ~ 73% decline in s...